Tuesday, 12 November 2013

Hastings is Great

So Hastings and St Leonards
were pipped at the post for the Great Town 2014 award. The Academy of Urbanism
shortlisted our town down to the final three and invited us to their awards
ceremony along with Buxton and Cork.

It really was like being at
the Oscars. I’d worked out what I would say if we were called up as winners.

The chief reviewer gave his comments
on the strengths of each of the three and was very generous in what he said
about us. “Have we got it” I wondered. Then that slight pause after “and the
winner is”…Cork.

So yes after all the build
up and all that nervous energy it was a bit deflating but not for long. Seventy
four towns were considered for this year’s prestigious honour and we were there
in the top three.

The delegation from the
Academy visited the town back in the Summer – although unfortunately it rained
for most of their visit which showed up in the photos on the big screen at the awards
ceremony. We entertained them at the Jerwood Gallery in the company of
representatives of different public organisations and community bodies in the
town.

Their conclusions included really
complementary conclusions like:

“Hastings is
a name with high recognition, nationally and to some extent internationally; an
advantage to this resort on the south coast of England, striving to attract
investment, political attention and visitors. Hastings and St
Leonards have positive and varied character, a proactive and
collaborative council with a lively mix of trusts and charities

contributing to the town’s regeneration. The cultural
offer of Hastings and St Leonards is seen by all as a key element of
the regeneration of the town. The privately funded Jerwood

Gallery is a
recent asset to the town, attracting visitors from far and wide. Its
outreach to the local community perhaps might be developed further.
There is a positive strategy in Hastings
of supporting events and festivals throughout the year to ‘stretch’ the
attraction to visitors.”

Had I been called to respond
on our behalf as the winning town I would have said we hope we are an example
of a socially challenged town trying to regenerate itself without losing its
essential identity. And I would have talked about the opportunities culture and
the arts are offering us.

The city of culture judges
recognised that in our bid for that accolade for 2017.

Celebrating the 950th
anniversary of the Battle of Hastings and working to realise our cultural
potential as a means to continue reviving the town go together. So despite the
borough council’s on-going financial challenges we are looking to put one-off
money into making the most of 2016 and looking for serious public and private
sponsorship.

The Academy and the city of
culture judges all recognised just what Hastings
can become.

Even in these difficult times I want to make sure we get there.

And of course being Hastings born and bred I’ve always known we’re a Great Town.